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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 245 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 245

  Recognizing the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, 
 calling for the release of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, and for other reasons.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 4, 2013

 Mr. Bentivolio submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Recognizing the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, 
 calling for the release of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, and for other reasons.

Whereas the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association are fundamental 
        human rights and are recognized as such under the United Nations 
        Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and 
        Political Rights;
Whereas the protests in Tiananmen Square were the result of the peaceful 
        democratic movement throughout China and were calling for open dialogue 
        with the Government of the People's Republic of China and its leaders 
        regarding democratic reform;
Whereas the People's Liberation Army and other security forces used lethal force 
        to disperse demonstrations in Beijing on June 3, 1989, and June 4, 1989;
Whereas the People's Liberation Army and other security forces wounded and 
        killed thousands of innocent people;
Whereas thousands of people throughout China who were suspected of taking part 
        in the democracy movement were arrested and sentenced without trial;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has become increasingly 
        sophisticated in its persecution of religious groups, human rights and 
        democracy advocates, and ethnic minorities;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China kidnapped Dr. Wang 
        Bingzhang, a United States permanent resident and one of the founders of 
        the Chinese democracy movement, and sentenced him to life in prison on 
        charges of espionage and terrorism in a closed trial, and whose 
        detention was declared arbitrary by the United Nations Working Group on 
        Arbitrary Detention;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to--

    (1) take active measures to deny citizens information regarding the 
Tiananmen Square massacre, and continues to suppress access to information 
about the event on the Internet;

    (2) harass, detain, or imprison members of the Chinese democracy 
movement and other advocates for democratic reform, human rights, and 
religious freedom;

    (3) oppress and persecute the peaceful, spiritual movement of Falun 
Gong and its leaders and practitioners; and

    (4) restrict and censor free speech on the Internet; and

Whereas June 4, 2013, is the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses sympathy and condolences to the families of 
        the victims who were killed, wounded, tortured, or imprisoned 
        resulting from their participation in the demonstrations in 
        Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People's Republic of China on 
        June 3, 1989, and June 4, 1989, and to the families of those 
        who continue to face persecution, torture, or imprisonment as a 
        result of their involvement with those demonstrations;
            (2) commends and honors the advocates who continue to 
        struggle for democracy and human rights in China, despite the 
        harsh consequences they face;
            (3) condemns the continued persecution and oppression of 
        peaceful religious minorities, such as Buddhists, the Uyghur 
        people, Falun Gong practitioners, and other spiritual 
        movements;
            (4) condemns the ongoing human rights abuses and 
        persecution by the Government of the People's Republic of China 
        and its efforts to quell political dissent and oppress 
        religious minorities; and
            (5) calls on the Government of the People's Republic of 
        China to--
                    (A) end the harassment, detention, torture, and 
                imprisonment of Chinese citizens expressing their 
                legitimate freedom of religion, expression, and 
                association;
                    (B) release the remaining prisoners of conscience 
                who continue to be detained as a result of their 
                participation in the peaceful pro-democracy 
                demonstrations in 1989, especially around Tiananmen 
                Square;
                    (C) end the targeted persecution and oppression of 
                the Uyghur community, particularly the suppression of 
                their religious faith;
                    (D) end the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners 
                by the Government of the People's Republic of China and 
                Chinese authorities; and
                    (E) release United States permanent resident Dr. 
                Wang Bingzhang, a long-time peaceful democracy 
                activist, who was sentenced to life in prison on 
                charges of terrorism and espionage, whose daughter, 
                son, and sister are United States citizens.
                                 <all>
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